Healy/Mulkerrin Family, Ardbear Clifden

Patrick Healy was one of the early settlers of the new town of Clifden. The first documented mention of him is the list of freeholders published in the Connaught Journal in 1830.

In the same newspaper published Nov 20 1834 he appears on a list of jurors; a farmer living in Ardbear.

1846 finds him in Slater's Directory living in Ardbear and gives his occupation as a contractor. Now family lore says he was involved in the building of the road to Roundstone and the Weir Bridge at Salt Lake. This would place him in Clifden in the early 1820s.

According to Griffiths Valuation 1855 he held 15 acres of land at Ardbear.

In Slater's Directory of 1870 he is again listed as a contractor living at Ardbear.

He married Margaret McDonnell and had one daughter Mary Anne.

He died in 1872 aged 100yrs.

His widow Margaret married Festus Gannon & in 1901(census) they are living at Ardbear. By 1911(census) Margaret has died and Festus Gannon is living alone at Ardbear.

Mary Anne Healy married Michael Mulkerrin from Streamstown on

1st August 1889 and went on to have 14 children. In 1901 (census) the family are living in Letterdeen and Michael gives his occupation as a shepherd. They have 6 children: Delia, Thomas, Patrick, Michael, MaryMargaret & Festus.

By 1911 (census) the family has moved into town and live on Market St. and Michael is a general labourer. I believe he worked at the Marconi Radio Station at Derrygimla, most likely as a turf cutter. Both Michael & Mary Anne speak Irish & English.

Of the 14 children born only 11 are alive; Thomas, Patrick, Michael, Mary Margaret, Festus, John, James, Joseph & Kathleen (twins), William & Annie.

There is no occupation given for his eldest son Thomas but Patrick is a post boy & Michael a telegraph messenger.

By 1917 Festus Gannon has died & Michael & Mary Anne move to the property at Ardbear.

Patrick & Thomas fought in WW1 with the Connaught Rangers; Michael who by this time had emmigrated to America also served in both WW1 & WW2

Michael had emmigrated to America in 1913 followed by Patrick in 1920 & James in 1928. In 1919 Michael married Georgia Mary Kuder and their descendents are living between Pittsburgh and San Francisco. As often happens the spelling of the name changed and shortly after arriving Michael spells his surname with only one 'R'.

By 1930 (United States Federal census) Patrick is also living in Pittsburgh with his wife Mary (Joyce) and James who arrived in 1928 is living with them.

While I can find no further trace of Patrick after 1930 and have no idea if he had any children; I am in contact with the grandson of James in Pittsburgh; and met with Michael's grandson when he visited some years ago.

Of the children left at home Festus, Mary Margaret & Kathleen all married but had no children. Thomas & Joseph stayed single. William married & had 6 children of which I am the youngest.

Bridget & Peter died in infancy; Delia died 1903 and John died in 1915

Annie married and her daughter and I now both have our homes on that same plot of land our great grandfather Patrick Healy farmed way back in the early 1800s.

Bernie Mulkerrin-Budd